Man who ran from Norwich court back after second escape attempt

Elton Canuto, who bolted before he could be taken into custody for failing to pay child support last week, was back in court Monday following a weekend arrest and a second escape attempt.

GREG SMITH

Elton Canuto, who bolted before he could be taken into custody for failing to pay child support last week, was back in court Monday following a weekend arrest and a second escape attempt.

The 28-year-old Norwich man was presented in Norwich Superior Court — this time in handcuffs and shackles and flanked by four judicial marshals.

Canuto faces escape from custody and fugitive from justice charges — the escape charge linked to Canuto’s sprint from the Norwich courthouse on Wednesday.

Records show Canuto attended a contempt hearing for failing to pay child support and was ordered into custody by Magistrate Norma Sanchez-Figueroa.

When a judicial marshal made a move to place Canuto in handcuffs, police said, he vaulted a bench and fled the courtroom.

Escape

Canuto descended a set of stairs, twisted from the grasp of probation officer Dan Marsh and disappeared into the parking garage across from the courthouse.

Police caught up with Canuto on Saturday, after pulling over a car for speeding on Route 165 in Preston. State police said the passenger, later identified as Canuto, ran into the woods while Trooper Armando Bettini was in his police cruiser.

Chase

Bettini chased Canuto and eventually caught up with him near a residence on Benjamin Road.

Bettini had stopped at one point to listen for Canuto when he spotted the light from Canuto’s cell phone, according to the arrest warrant affidavit in the case.

Canuto, who is on probation for a weapon-related conviction in Rhode Island, is also wanted in Rhode Island for a failure to appear in court to answer to a felony charge of having a loaded weapon in a motor vehicle.

Judge Hunchu Kwak raised Canuto’s bond to $130,000. The case was continued to Feb. 29.

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